Western Civilization Essays

Western Civilization Essays Western Civilization Essay Western Civilization Essay Name: Lecturer: Course: Date: Natural law is viewed by many philosophers as the instrument used in the exploration of gods will. As Martin, (1999) explains, natural law is different from theology, in that it does not rely fully on supernatural law or revealed sources but on empirical evidence concerning human existence and nature. Natural law is a source of social norm in the society. It provides the basis for moral system in different religious group. According to Owen (1997), in whatever setting of the society and religion, all share the common frame work of natural law. Looking at the process of absorbing social norm, members of a society utilize socialization and education to distinguish between the good and the evil. Social norms are based on human nature and are important convections required to achieve social stability. The major objective of natural law is to make or sustain socially valued roles for people in their society, in case where an individual holds valued social roles, one is highly likely to re ceive in return those good things in life that are obtainable in that society hence the society always a way of paying those people who adhere to its norms. In additional all sorts valued things that other people are able to pass on are almost involuntarily accorded to a person who holds societal appreciated roles, at least within the resources and norms ones society. (Barford, 1996). Most human being societies have adopted certain societal norms which result either from ethics or from intrinsic ideas. But according to Young, (2003), consequences are that they partially result to human societies being unable to forbid impunity. Eventually, serious tensions picks in the society that may lead to society’s demolition. Men in general learn to differentiate between good and evil through learning and socialization. Through reason, a man is able to distinguish between what is unacceptable and what can be accepted in a particular society. Some norms are vital for social stability and in this sense such norms are based on human natural history, they are conventions that we need to have a stable society.   Therefore society norms and ethics have a major role in setting the society free from disorder (Barford, 1996). If law totally breaks down, then society is worse off than before (Owen, 1997). Socrates believed in this statement and totally refused to break the law. He wondered what kind of citizen he will be if he refused to accept the ruling of the jury. In addition Reilly (2000) in his book the social organization of today are dissimilar from the first civilizations in that primitive cultures depended on unity of people to live. However currently everyone depends on cash inform of monitory value and it has established the same as the common good. According to Kibuka (2000), the society without cash would work mainly because it goes against individual nature. No matter how genuine and accountable people are civilized, people always need a reward. He continue to express criticism that without the reward everything will have no value hence the world will still be far away from civilization. In his book Reilly (2000) argues that an operational, liberated and just society must rest on a basic pri nciple. Right liberty cannot be real for all, unless the civil liberties of all are valued by all, these right can be liberty and the pursuit of happiness. According to Karl Marx, order is highly important for the organization and for maintenance of all human societies and to bring about civilization. He said the higher rank of order a society achieves, the more superior the society tends to be unable to find order and indeed the more chaotic it become (young, 2003). Marx contradicts with Reilly (2000) who thought civilization goes hand in hand with law and order in the system. He points out that through the period of anarchy and revolution a society mainly lack order and therefore becomes chaotic. Both Marx and Reilly (2000) however converge on the same thoughts that societies have a lot of the attributes of the united system; through swapping matter and energy to their surroundings as they add to their order specialization tend to develop. The world is an island and therefore we all need each other to survive and we communication which is the key to the organization and development of all human societies; this involves use of words and symbols. It’s therefore very vital to have a pattern of value, order and norms so that law and order will be maintained in a society; this explains why in a structured society there is need for law and order. In addition order and pattern is the core of social union and function (Cohen Arato, 2001). Karl Marx quoted that though much energy is put in a society to maintain order, change is unavoidable hence he believed that every society can be destroyed if unity is not maintained by law and order (Young, 2003). At this juncture, Marx was in agreement with (Reilly 2000) who argued out that for there to be order in the society we need law to be followed for law and orders go hand in hand.   Reilly (2000) believed that rational societies were structured to attain goals flexibly and were able to meet the test of time therefore adjusting for better. In what I regard as the major achievement of the Greek and Roman Empires, the ancient Greek empire has contributed a lot to civilization of the west. Since inception the Greek philosophy, it has continued to shape the whole of western thought impacting on modern philosophy and modern science (Jessop, 1998). Although many philosophers believe that neither inquiry nor the reason began with the ancient Greeks, the Socratic methods together with his ideas of form are entirely from the Greek. Socrates who was the teacher for Plato was an Athenian philosopher who believed that a person should strive always to do well. He emphasized that one should always know you and he was known for disobeying the bad command (Barford, 1996). Aristotle and Plato work forms the major philosophies that have greatly influenced the western philosophy. The Greece’s were very good in art, history, art and science which many countries including western countries borrowed to shape their growth of civilizat ion. All these cultures begun with what is known as golden age of Greece: it’s the time of cultural prosperity peace and time of law and order in Greece. More so myths, Olympics, democracy rule of law all originated in Greece.   Greek’s had a very rich culture which influenced western civilization. The most notable was mainly their philosophy and its culture which dictates their rich norms and values (Hefner, 1998). Greek scientist made radical discoveries in several fields like in mathematics, physics, medicine, biology and astronomy. This forms part of the reason why Greek civilization is still regarded as mother of discoveries. On addition it was first in Greeks where commercial trading post and colonies were founded this led to the growth of trade which in turn led to adoption of septic alphabetical scrip. These scripts led to the development of the subject mathematic. The Greek had several enemies who wanted to conquer them. The conflicts with the Persians did not only make the Greek Empire become very strong but also allowed establishing a very strong form of government which favored specialization (Hefner, 1998). To an extent ancient Greece affected civilization of the west with politics, this is because the Greece was the first to establish the democratic systems.   Laws as it’s in many western countries laws were voted on and proposed directly by the assembly of all citizens therefore Greece offered a form of government which is used by the western countries including the US. A form of government which has the Executive branch, the judicial branch and the judicial branch began with the Greece and later borrowed by the west. Greece was the first to realize the important of sports and make sport their tradition hence the first Olympic was held there. Surprisingly, up to date the western countries still compete on the same sports which were held on the first Olympics (Martin, 1999).For ancient Roman, Engineering was a main issue influencing western civilization. Nowadays the Greek technologies are used to build bridges, harbors and roads were buildings in the west. Cohen and Arato (20 01) express no doubt that civilization of the west has been shaped and largely based on Greece’s powerful politics, philosophers, medics, sports and classical art. The society has played a big role in the invention of law, in order to advance the concept of the common good. The common good was crucial to normative vision of what can be regarded as good life during the time of the Greek moral philosophy that formed the basis of western thought. The common good entails grasping idea that a person as sacred and social. Common good is based on understanding that human rights and dignity together with well being and human potential are achieved in one’s moral ecology. On the other hand it is the social justice that orients the moral action to the common good. Every person in the society who is dedicated to the quality of life and to the well being of every body gives in to the common good of all since. Plato asserted that in a just society, citizen bestowed themselves to the common good, act morally and wisely, and practices the occupation they are best suited. Aristotle contrary to that recommended that a state should be governed by middle class, because he thought that they are likely to struggle for fairness of the common good. Moreover he stressed that an individual depends on the society in order to survive a truly human life, and even that the state is a natural creation that precedes a person (Owen, 1997). As per St. Augustine, he diverted the natural law of society from one based on reason to one based on divine rule. In his argument, St Augustine Hefner (1998) apprehends God and churches as the vital base of civic virtue, law and order of the social order. Therefore religion is very important in shaping human destiny, for church offers laws and ethics to be followed. Its society’s role to come out with guidelines for defining what is norm and what is right. It is al so the society role in general to mold its own people. It has a function of maintaining law and order hence protecting its people. Jessop, (1998) asserts that the main function of civil society is to compel human beings to respect one another’s rights. Civilization can be achieved only when the civil societies in the western countries protect its members to pursue diverse interest at the same time the political parties striving to guide the members towards party goals. Nevertheless, many philosophers predict that the western civilization is on the verge of collapsing. Cohen and Arato (2001) attribute the collapse to invasion of the west culture by other cultures. Although, the west citizens are slowly rejecting their community culture, they still hold some sense of commitment towards it.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Popular Book Series With Cartoons

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Popular Book Series With Cartoons The Diary of a Wimpy Kid  series is  a big hit with both boys and girls, ages 8 to 12. Billed as a novel in cartoons, Book One is the diary of protagonist Greg Heffley. (Greg is upfront in wanting readers to know, This is a JOURNAL, not a diary and ...this was MOMs idea, not mine.)  Diary of a Wimpy Kid, with its combination of words and cartoons, is particularly appealing to reluctant readers. Summary of the Story Greg is one of three children. According to Greg, his little brother, Manny, never gets in trouble, even if he really deserves it, and his older brother Rodrick is always getting the best of Greg. In his diary, Greg details his daily activities, starting with the first day of middle school and his warnings to readers about choosing where to sit in class. How does Greg feel about middle school? He thinks its dumb because  You got kids like me who havent hit their growth spurt yet mixed in with these gorillas who need to shave twice a day. Whether its dealing with bullying, his friend Rowley, homework, or family life, Greg is always busy trying to figure out the angle that will make things work out best for him. Author Jeff Kinney does a great job, in words and pictures, of illustrating the general goofiness that comes with being a self-centered adolescent, and the hilarious things that happen as a result. Author and Illustrator Overview Diary of a Wimpy Kid is Jeff Kinneys first book. While a student at the University of Maryland, Kinney had his own comic strip, Igdoof, in the school newspaper. After college, he began writing Diary of a Wimpy Kid and putting it online in daily installments on FunBrain.com. Then, publisher Harry N. Abrams signed Kinney to a multi-book deal to create a Diary of a Wimpy Kid series for the Amulet Books imprint. Despite the success of his books, Kinney has kept his day job working for an Internet publishing company. As far as how much the series is based on his life, Kinney said in an interview. that the books are a mix of his own family stories growing up, but with his own comedic spin on them. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Recommendation The books lined pages, plus Gregs writing and his pen and ink sketches and cartoons, make it seem like an authentic diary which adds greatly to the readers enjoyment and relatability. If you are looking for a book with a main character who is a perfect role model for your child, this isnt it. But if you are looking for a funny book your kids will enjoy and identify with, grab a copy. Diary of a Wimpy Kid  is best suited for tweens and younger teens. (Amulet Books, An Imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc. 2007. ISBN: 9780810993136) More Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books As of February 2017, there were eleven books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, including titles like  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw. In addition, if Gregs diary has inspired your kids to try writing and drawing, they will enjoy Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Do-It-Yourself Book, which includes writing and drawing prompts, with lots of space for kids to fill. Sources ComicMix, Interview: Jeff KinneyWimpyKid.com, About the Author

A ban on the wearing of items of clothing and other symbols of Essay

A ban on the wearing of items of clothing and other symbols of religious significance - Essay Example These Islamic dresses have raised various questions related to gender equality, freedom of religion and liberalism, and currently these issues are under serious contentions in Western Europe. Within this atmosphere of hot debate, France, which has around five million Muslims (the largest in population of Muslims in Western Europe), has taken a ?rm stand and became the first nation to pass a legislation that banned both headscarves and full veils (BBC News, The Islamic Veil Across Europe, 22nd September 2011). As per the legislation which became effective from 11 April 2011, it is now illegal for women in France (French or foreign), to leave their homes with their face covered with a veil, and women found flouting rules are liable to pay a heavy fine. UK, which promotes multiculturalism, have not imposed any ban on clothing or other accessories with religious significance; however, schools are allowed to establish their own dress code following a 2007 court directive (BBC News, The Is lamic Veil Across Europe, 22nd September 2011). However currently in UK, Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill 2010/11 brought in by Mr Philip Hollobone is under consideration, which proposes to ban the covering of faces in public spaces (Face Coverings (Regulation) Bill 2010/11, 2011). ... Russian Supreme Court had ordered a complete ban on use of veils in public spaces and offices, which is however not followed in Chechnya. In Germany, even though the court ruled in favour of a teacher wanting to wear a scarf to school, there are provisions for modifying laws locally, and many states have imposed a ban on Islamic veils. Austria and Switzerland are also considering a probable ban, in case there are too many women wearing the veil (ibid). From a scholarly viewpoint, even though the hijab and the niqab may have various cultural and religious connotations, but in the context of present debates over issues of gender equality and tolerance, there are claims that Muslims often tend to use veils to make their presence felt in the European countries (Teitelbaum, 2011). It is owing to such suggestions that the issue of wearing veils has currently taken a political shape, and many citizens and politicians view Islamic veils as a sign of radical Islam or fundamentalism. In the co ntext of the current debate, that questions the reasoning behind implementing a legal ban on wearing of Islamic veils, there are varying viewpoints. According to the Commissioner  of Human Rights (Council of Europe) Thomas Hammarberg, this ban on veils would not help to achieve the desired effects of gender equality or end oppression of Muslim women. Instead, he claimed, â€Å"Prohibition of the burqa and the niqab would not liberate oppressed women, but might instead lead to their further alienation in European societies. A general ban on such attires would constitute an ill-advised invasion of individual privacy. Depending on its precise terms, a prohibition also

MSc Strategic Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

MSc Strategic Accounting - Essay Example Due to the fact that the strategic costing technique firmly implies long-term future oriented attributes, it can facilitate the organisations to reduce different types of accounting uncertainties (Cadez & Guilding, 2008). Critical Review of Literature With respect to the significance of the strategic costing, Cadez (2008) has mentioned that the notion of strategic costing has become a widely used technique for the organisations in case of proactively performing their range of accounting practices. In relation to the present fiercely competitive scenario of the global business environment, the organisations seek to integrate well-built Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) techniques in order to efficiently attain their strategic goals (Cadez, 2008). Contextually, it has also been found from the study in Qucosa (2006) that the concept of strategic costing constitutes a broad focus beyond the notion of controlling or reducing organisational costs associated with its range of business o perations. Moreover, the nature of strategic costing also encompasses cost information which is significantly recognised as one of the major attributes of making exceptional organisational decisions. In this regard, the study of Qucosa (2006) has further depicted a conceptual framework with respect to the major characteristics of strategic costing. Fig: Concept Strategic Cost Management (Qucosa, 2006) Philosophy: The philosophy of strategic costing can be considered as one of the major attributes which ensures to improve revenue as well as cost of the organisations. The concept of strategic costing significantly emphasises upon enhancing organisational productivity, capitalising in terms of profit enhancement along with augmenting customer satisfaction (Qucosa, 2006). Attitude: The concept of strategic costing constitutes a proactive attitude which ensures to encompass all the costs associated with the organisational processes that result from the management decisions. In this regar d, the attitude of strategic costing involves six important elements such as holistic nature, market orientation, anticipatory approach, continuousness, participative and cross-functional attributes (Qucosa, 2006). Techniques: Techniques can be recognised as the major attribute that exists within the concept of strategic costing. The concept of strategic costing firmly involves reliable techniques that are implemented by the organisations in order to accomplish their desired goals or obtain overall needs (Qucosa, 2006). The notion of strategic costing can also be considered as an effectual curriculum for the organisations. In accordance with the viewpoints of Banerjee (2006), it has been revealed that an effective practice of strategic costing tends to facilitate the firms to frequently analyse and recognise their major cost drivers, thus helping them to minimise costs and increase the overall value of the firms. Such types of management accounting programme plays a vital role for t he organisations in terms of preparing budget parameter as well as it also facilitates

Human Resources Constructive-Dismissal Report Essay Example for Free

Human Resources Constructive-Dismissal Report Essay Message It has come to my unfortunate attention that a former employee has made a discrimation-focused legal claim against our company. My goal is to define â€Å"constructive dismissal†; explain the legal mandates to which it may be attributed; discuss the merits—or lack—of it; and offer future mitigative actions to avoid such claims. Constructive Dismissal—Defined Before delving into a serious discussion of the former employee’s claim, it is important to understand the legal construct upon which it has been founded; this construct is referred to as â€Å"constructive dismissal. † Constructive dismiissal refers to an employee compulsion to terminate any working relationships with an employer. The impetus for the termination is an employer’s willful intent to create a hostile or unbearable working condition. Legally speaking, constructive dismissal is, then, tantamount to involuntarily separating the employee from the company (United States Department of Labor, 2012). There are three standards that must be considered when adjudicating whether a situation falls within constructive-dismissal grounds. They are 1. Intolerable Conditions 2. Objective Standard 3. Employer Knowledge and Intent The adjective in the first standard is important, because it makes the distinction between undue working conditions that are unbearable for a reasonable person and a process change that may be inconvenient for the  employee but is not intolerable. Trival matters such as changing a computer from a PC to a Mac, are exmempt from this standard, since these frustrations are a normative in all areas of employment. The second standard establishes a consensus on what is considered intolerable. It is defined as a work environment in which a reasonable person would feel compelled to quit. The third standard is also important, because it clearly indicates that the employer must know that changes that it is implementing create an intolerable environment, and it does so with the intent of compelling an employee to quit as opposed to implementing changes that are motivated by a substantiated business need (Turner v. Anheuser-Busch, Inc., 1994). Please note that constructive dismissal does not necessarily imply discrimination (though it is almost always discrimination based), since it can apply to both those in a protected class or outside it. The ex-employee charges that the schedule change for the production department was an unreasonable action on the company’s part and resulted in her being forced to work on a holy day of her religious persuasion. Resultantly, she charges that she felt compelled to quit, which is why she has filed a constructive-discharge claim against the company. Constructive-Dismissal and Attendant Legal Mandates More than just creating such a toxic environment, when the working condition creates an undue effect based on the employee’s race, ethnicity, gender, national origin, or religion. the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applies and sets forth: â€Å"(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such indviduals’race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or â€Å"(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which woulld deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin† (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). An amalgamation of undue effect and discrimination of a protected class engenders â€Å"disparate impact† (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012) Employment separation due to disparate impact explicitly applies to the following sections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The onus of proof is placed on the claimant. This person must do the following:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"(i) a complaining party demonstrates that a respondent uses a particular employment practice that causes a disparate impact on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and the respondent fails to demonstrate that the challenged practice is job related for the position in question and consistent with business necessity; or â€Å"(ii) the complaining party makes the demonstration described in subparagraph (C) with respect to an alternative employment practice and the respondent refuses to adopt such alternative employment practice. â€Å"(B) (i) With respect to demonstrating that a particular employment practice causes a disparate impact as described in subparagraph (A)(i), the complaining party shall demonstrate that each particular challenged employment practice causes a disparate impact, except that if the complaining party can demonstrate to the court that the elements of a respondent’s decisionmaking process are not capable of separation for analysis, the decisionmaking process may be analyzed as one employment practice. â€Å"(ii) If the respondent demonstrates that a specific employment practice does not cause the disparate impact, the respondent shall not be required to demonstrate that such practice is required by business necessity. â€Å"(C) The demonstration referred to by subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be in accordance with the law as it existed on June 4, 1989, with respect to the concept of â€Å"alternative employment practice†. â€Å"(2) A demonstration that an employment practice is required by business necessity may not be used as a defense against a claim of intentional discrimination under this subchapter. â€Å"(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, a rule barring the employment of an individual who currently and knowingly uses or possesses a controlled substance, as defined in schedules I and II of section 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802(6)), other than the use or possession of a drug taken under the supervision of a licensed health care professional, or any other use or possession authorized by the Controlled Substances Act [21 U.S.C. 801 et seq.] or any other provision of Federal law, shall be considered an unlawful employment practice under this subchapter only if such rule is adopted or applied with an intent to discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin† (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2012). Although constructive dismissal is not directly referred to in the Civil Rights Act, it is clearly implied, since such a dismissal normally is directed at protected classes of individuals. When combined with disparate impact, constructive dismissal will fall under the purview of the Civil Right Act, and both are legally actional behaviors that the federal government will pursue through legal action and fines. It should be noted that the level of requisite integrity of constructive-dismissal claims can vary from state to state. For example, Washington extends a protected-class status to gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender, or intersexed people, whereas Arizona extends no special class status to them. A constructive-dismissal claim due to sexual orientation in Washington would be considered; in Arizona, such a claim would not be considered. Furthermore, such a claim would face significant challenges if  appealed to federal levels, since federal laws offer no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation (Human Rights Campaign, 2012). In addition to constructive dismissal, the ex-employee charges that the schedule change infringed on her right to practice her religion, since she believed that she was required to work on a holy day. The Title VII Act explicitly prohibits discrimation based on religious affiliation. Constructive-Dismissal Merits The ex-employee’s claim does not satisfy constructive-dismissal, disparate-impact, and discrimination prohibitions. The facts of this case clearly indicate this. Let us apply this individual’s claim to the standards required for each prohibition. First, for constructive dismissal, our company must create a hostile environment for the sole purpose of compelling the employee to quit. The ex-employee believes that the schedule adjustment, which required 12-hour days for four days a week and with three days off, created a hostile environment. This particular aspect of this individual’s claim fails this test for a few reasons: 1) Business growth motivated the schedule adjustment, not malice; 2.) the schedule adjustment applied to the most affected department, which is production, since it is tasked with keeping up with the increased demand for our products; and 3.) we provided employees of that department schedule options; we did not constrain them to work on specific days that happened to be days of observance for their religion. Considering the schedule flexibility offered, if the ex-employee worked on a holy day, it was out of choice, not compulsion on the part of our company. Another implication in the above argument is that a different department did not have its schedule adjusted. As indicated above, we adjusted the schedule for the department that is directly affected by the business growth—the production department. There is no impetus for us to adjust schedules for the human-resources department, for example. Second, for objective standards, courts have repeatedly ruled that constructive dismissal is applicable if we create an environment that is so heinous, a reasonable person would quit. I have just indicated that our schedule adjustment was motivated by business need, not malice toward a particular individual or religion. All of the other employees took advantage of the schedule opportunity offered and chose days to work that were appropriate for their needs. There have been no other complaints of being forced to work or being unable to work on a non-holy day. Based on the scenario, it would not be reasonable to quit one’s job. Third, for employer knowledge and intent, it is true that we knew that the increase in business might have caused an impact on certain employees’ lives. We proactively remedied this situation by offering such a flexible schedule, with employees making their own choice of what days they would and would not work. Employees have nearly half their workweek off. There is no reason for an individual to work on a holy day. Also, our only intent was to meet our customers’ needs, so we adjusted our business processes to effectively do so. The underlying concern is that our actions were motivated by this individual’s religion. There is no tenable evidence to support such a concern. We hire a range of people with different religious beliefs. Some are unwilling to work on Sundays. Others are unwilling to work on Saturdays. Some require prayer at various points during the day. Where reasonable, we have always provided accommodations for such observances, and we did so with our schedule adjustment. There was no targeting of any religion. There is no veracity to the ex-employee’s claims. The company must respond to these charges. It can do so in one of three ways: 1. The company can ignore the facts of this scenario and accept that the ex-employee’s claims have merit and can then move to placate the ex-employee in a few ways: a. Rehiring the ex-employee and paying her retroactive pay for the time she did not work, b. Not rehiring the ex-employee but  offering a settlement to avoid a protracted legal scenario, or c. Rehiring the ex-employee and accommodating her schedule requests (Palopoli, 2011). 2. The company can enter into arbitration with the ex-employee to discuss the facts of the scenario, with the intention of arriving at an equitable solution that will placate the concerns of the ex-employee and the company (EEOC, 2012). 3. The company can refute the charges in a court of law, especially after the findings of an investigative company effort denote no actual discrimination or the appearance of it (Cruz, Padilla, Narvae Law Firm, 2011). There are caveats to each of these responses, however. For Response 1, this action is a clear company admission of its culpability in discrimination within its organization. It is an unbalanced response, since it placates the ex-employee but tarnishes the name of the company. Furthermore, acquiescing to the ex-employee’s claims by adjusting the schedule may very well set an inappropriate expectation for other employees. An influx of schedule requests based on employees who invoke their religious preferences would thwart the purpose of the schedule request, which is to meet customer demand. For Response 2, the results of an arbitration hearing are legally binding and normally are a mitigative step against taking up the matter in a court of law. There is a likelihood, no matter how remote, that arbitration will result in our company’s acquiescing to the ex-employee’s claims. This eventuality can result in financal loss due to paying exorbitant sums to the ex-employee for what would amount to silencing her criticism of our company. Or if the results of the arbitration fall in line with the company’s wishes, the negative image that the ex-employee may generate would harm recruiting efforts of candidates or customers who increasingly place value on companies that demonstrate social responsbility toward people and its surroundings. For Response 3, the judgment in a legal case can be binding. There may be a remote possibility that our company may not vindicate itself fully in court. Because of the facts of the case, it would be reasonable to expect that our company would appeal. However, the cost to contend with the ex-employee in court may be prohibitively high. And even if our company emerges victoriously, the result would not constrain the ex-empoyee from tarnishing our company’s name in the marketplace. Based on the eventualities listed above, the viable course of action is Response 3. The actions of our company are sufficiently supported to provide a solid response in a legal setting. The likelihood of not prevailing in court is minimal. And although the opportunity cost to following this route is devoting funds unnecessarily to a baseless claim, vindication in court may very indicate to others who choose to bring dubious claims that our company will respond indignantly to these affronts to our company’s reputation. Responding to the baseless claim by pursuing the matter in court is a tenable position, since our anti-discrimination policy is clear. (In allusion to a subsequent section, the clarity of the policy does not imply that it has been adequately explained to prosepctive and current employees; a training program offered to our recruiting staff will resolve that matter.) Our greatest defense is in presenting this policy as evidence to the court. The policy clearly indicates that the company respects religion as a protected class and makes every effort to accommodate religious rites as long as they do not present an undue contravention of company operation (HR Info Center, 2009). A court-centered legal response to this claim is preferable also because of the investigative process that is extant within our anti-discrimination policy. The ex-employee did not provide our company an opportunity to investigate the claim before she resigned her position. The only indication that a problem existed was when the EEOC delivered the complaint to our company. Our investigative processes clearly demonstrate the thoroughness  and seriousness that our policy devotes to discrimination complaints. Multiple layers of leadership are involved in the process, and many employees are interviewed to determine if they shared the same sentiments. The investigative process is also confidential, and the results are shared with no entity without a need-to-know basis. Furthermore, the investigative process has corrective action built in if there is a determination of discrimination against the employee making the complaint. It also has a built-in anti-retaliation policy, regardless the result of the complaint. Our company can provide documented evidence of our response to past complaints as well as the company’s disposition toward employees after the resolution of these complaints. Demonstrating the company’s follow-through efforts that the ex-employee did not avail herself of will provide substantial support of our contention that we are committed to operating in a discrimination-free environment (Kleiner Perkins Files Legal Response To Gender Discrimination Suit, Denies â€Å"Each And Every Material Allegation, 2012). Another reason why pursuing this matter in a court of law is appropriate is that our company can demonstrate our commitment to investing in the community in which we operate, a diverse community. Our company currently provides several millions of dollars in tax revenue to the community, revenue from which all members of the community benefit. But more than tax revenue, our company provides financial support to various groups in the community: religious-based groups, gay-and-lesbian groups, black-focused groups, and women-centered groups. Our commitment to financially supporting the community is a potent response by itself to the baseless claima against us. Logically speaking, it would be nonsensical for our company to expend money for these community-focused endeavors while practicing discrimination against the very members of the groups that benefit from our financial support (Response to discrimination claims, 2007).

The Civil War And Its Ending Of Slavery :: Slavery Essays

The Civil War and Its Ending of Slavery This paper is about the civil war and about how it ended slavery with the emancipation proclomation. I will also talk abou the physical loses of the war. The South, overwhelmingly agricultural, produced cash crops such ascotton, tobacco and sugarcane for export to the North or to Europe, but it depended on the North for manufactures and for the financial and commercial services essential to trade. Slaves were the largest single investment in the South, and the fear of slave unrest ensured the loyalty of nonslaveholders to the economic and social system. To maintain peace between the Southern and Northern supporters in the Democratic and Whig parties, political leaders tried to avoid the slavery question. But with growing opposition in the North to the extension of slavery into the new territories, evasion of the issue became increasingly difficult. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 temporarily settled the issue by establishing the 36Â ° 30' parallel as the line separating free and slave territory in the Louisiana Purchase. Conflict resumed, however, when the United States boundaries were extended westward to the Pacific. The Compromise Measures of 1850 provided for the admission of California as a free state and the organization of two new territories—Utah and New Mexico—from the balance of the land acquired in the Mexican War. The principle of popular sovereignty would be applied there, permitting the territorial legislatures to decide the status of slavery when they applied for statehood. Despite the Compromise of 1850, conflict persisted. The South had become a minority section, and its leaders viewed the actions of the U.S. Congress, over which they had lost control, with growing concern. The Northeast demanded for its industrial growth a protective tariff, federal subsidies for shipping and internal improvements, and a sound banking and currency system. The Northwest looked to Congress for free homesteads and federal aid for its roads and waterways. The South, however, regarded such measures as discriminatory, favoring Northern commercial interests, and it found the rise of antislavery agitation in the North intolerable. Many free states, for example, passed personal liberty laws in an effort to frustrate enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act . The increasing frequency with which "free soilers," politicians who argued that no more slave states should be admitted to the Union, won elective office in the North also worried Southerners. The issue of slavery expansion erupted again in 1854, when Senator Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois pushed through Congress a bill establishing two new territories -Kansas and Nebraska -and applying to both the principle of popular sovereignty. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, by voiding the Missouri Compromise, produced a wave of protest in the North,

Cafeteria Food Essay

Some people think that school cafeterias should be required to provide low-fat and/or vegetarian lunch options to accommodate the government’s nutritional guidelines, but all students do not eat the same. In my essay about cafeteria food, I will explain what students want in their food. I will also share the likes and dislikes in the food and what we can do to improve it. Cold pizza, undercooked hamburgers and brown lettuce sounds nasty. Many students from different states and districts have to deal with that every day at their schools. The food from the cafeterias used to be good, with a sweet flavor, but in the last few years the food had taken a different flavor, a flavor that cannot be tolerated by the students. The students need a better quality in their food, don’t they? It’s time for a change, a change to food, so students can be satisfied while their eating, a change to food that can be really worth it. As a matter of fact, we students pay money to the district every year and this is what we get? It’s time for a change. Everybody knows that eating healthy was from the past. However, now students and not necessarily just students eat fast food like McDonalds or Taco Bell. Now everybody does, which can be a good and a bad thing. The changes of the food’s taste has made many students to not eat at school, or even made students to bring lunch, and this as a matter of fact causes the school to lose money. In all actuality is the loss of money causing the school to give students poorly made food? If the schools would serve students food from places like Pizza Hut and Subway I can guarantee that most or all students would eat at the cafeterias and it would benefit to both school and students. These types of foods would be so great to have in schools, but unfortunately the district and the governments have taken action and unfairly, they have set down laws that prohibit these foods in the schools. They have settled these laws because they want us as students to eat healthy, but if they want to keep us healthy, why are they giving us food with a bad and nasty taste? Also, with these laws they keep students like me away from eating too much â€Å"junk† food because they can cause obesity. But do they keep on giving us food that is not even worth the amount of money our parents give to the government every year? If they were the ones who eat all of the nasty food given by the cafeteria they would of get tired of eating cold pizza and uncooked hamburgers with brown lettuce just like we the students do. In conclusion, we all understand what the overnment and the school system is trying to do with this healthy eating program. They want to promote healthy eating habits in an effort to prevent obesity. Although nutrition is important, students feel that there is a better way to have healthy food without ruining the taste. Therefore, in an effort to keep students healthy and leave with their stomachs satisfied we should all come together to realize that we are the ones that have to make it through the school day with the food.

Importance of flowers

Flowers play an important role In making the life of a human being more cheerful and happy. People use flowers In several forms and on several occasions. Flowers are used as beautiful flower arrangements for decorating homes. They are also help people in proposing their partner for life, as well as flowers are used as a symbol of mourn and tribute on loved ones funeral. Apart from above said uses, there are several other uses of flowers in various activities of our daily life. Flower Arrangements in Decoration People love to decorate their houses with several attractive flowers arrangements.A flowerpot with fresh flowers on dining table increases the taste of breakfast and the impact of food being served. A beautiful flower setting on centre table of your drawing room can create a soothing atmosphere for you and your family members. Even guests visiting your house will not only adore your home arrangement skills, but they will also spread this word In front of others. A terrace garde n full of several smelling as well as non-smelling beautiful flowers Is the best place to spend your evening. Flowers and Love Flowers play an important role In the love life of every human being.A red rose Is the most helping and popular element for first expression of your love In front of him or her. The beauty and tenderness of a fresh red rose Is capable of conveying all your heartiest feelings without even uttering a single word from your mouth. This rose bud will become a most treasured gift for both of you in future that will help you both in recalling those days of hesitation and excitement. A candle light dinner with girlfriend or spouse is either incomplete or less romantic without a tulip or fresh rose dud arrangements on dinner table.Flowers and Women Flowers are symbol of beauty and happiness and women are a cause behind all happiness In people's life. Most Importantly, the love for flowers In women's heart Is well known. Flowers help women In making them more beautifu l, they love putting a matching flower in hairs to complete their makeup. Flowers are an integrated part of different homemade cosmetics and most of pentagonal Impact According to an April 2005 Rutgers university study, flowers bring about positive, beyond what most people normally deem as an acceptable reaction to the presence f flowers.Study participants reported feeling â€Å"excited† upon receiving a delivery of fresh flowers, and had displays of immense satisfaction. The study also reported that among study participants, flower recipients had an increased number of intimate connections with family members and friends. It concluded that flowers enhance an individual's emotional well-being and spurs an increase in happiness. Medicinal Benefits Flowers have healing properties. For example, roses are used extensively in the alternative medicine area for their ability to ease digestive issues and promote leaning in the liver.Infusions made using the dandelion flower can help to treat anemia and Jaundice. It also has blood-purifying properties. The marigold flower has antiseptic properties, making it good for helping cuts to heal. It also contains initiating components. The valerian flower provides migraine and tension headache relief and helps to cure insomnia. It also calms anxiety sufferers. Sunflowers are used to treat ulcers, and infusions may also help to ease the pain of menstrual cramping. Sunflower infusions are also used in alternative medicine to provide sore throat relief ND treat canker sores.Mental Health Benefits Fresh flowers also have an impact on your mental health. According to the Harvard University Home Ecology of Flowers Study, individuals have lower levels of anxiety and depression upon viewing fresh flowers, particularly in the morning. The study further shows that those women who keep fresh flowers in their homes regularly feel happier and much less anxious. Even if they women Just viewed a bouquet of fresh flowers in the morning , the study reports, they had an increased level of energy throughout the day.

The Rise of the Bric Economies Essays

The Rise of the Bric Economies Essays The Rise of the Bric Economies Paper The Rise of the Bric Economies Paper Question 1: BRIC economies – a critical overview Part 1: New emerging markets and BRIC. Over the last decade there have been significant changes to the world economy and the way once traditional Multinational corporations do business. This has been primarily due to the rise of new markets, particularly the BRIC economies. â€Å"The greatest effect of globalization is the shifting of the worlds wealth centers. Former developing countries are rapidly becoming richer through their use of natural resources, labour forces, and industrialization. An essay published by Goldman Sachs identified the core leaders in this category as Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and subsequently coined the term BRICs. Europe soon realized the vital necessity of building bridges with these emerging economic powers. Portugal saw an opportunity to utilize its historic and cultural ties with Brazil to bolster a strategic partnership with the EU. † (Building Bridges to the BRICs, Africa on the Agenda. Foreign Affairs, 00157120, Mar/Apr2008, Vol. 87, Issue 2). New emerging markets like Thailand, the Czech Republic, and Poland along with many others are now a source for potentially attractive investments. CEO, Cordiant Capital Inc. , David. G. Creighton said â€Å"While we have seen many countries develop fairly quickly over the last fifteen years, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Thailand and Mexico, there are a number of others that, for a variety of reasons, are lagging behind. We continue to find attractive opportunities in Russia and Latin America and are now beginning to engage with the next wave of countries in such places as El Salvador, Bulgaria and Kazakhstan. It’s all about finding the right risk/return profile. † (The New Emerging Markets by Benefits Canada, 2007; benefitscanada. com/pdfs/Reports_TheNewEmergingMarkets. pdf;) New emerging markets, especially the BRIC economies, have been on the rise in terms of industrialization and Gross domestic product growth particularly in the service sectors. To further observe the rise of new emerging markets, specifically BRIC economies the table below shows the top 20 economies for the years 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2006: Table : Top 20 Economies Position1995200120032006 USAUSAUSAUSA 2JapanJapanJapanJapan 3GermanyGermanyGermanyGermany 4FranceFranceUKChina 5ItalyUKFranceChina 6UKItalyChinaUK 7BrazilChinaItalyFrance 8CanadaBrazilCanadaItaly 9ChinaCanadaMexicoCanada 10SpainSpainSpainSpain 11MexicoIndiaIndiaBrazil 12RussiaMexicoBrazilRussian Fed 13South KoreaKorea, RepSouth KoreaIndia 14AustraliaNetherlandsNetherlandsKorea Rep. 15NetherlandsAustraliaAustraliaMexico 16IndiaRussian Fed. Russia Australia 17ArgentinaArgentinaSwitzerlandNetherlands 18SwitzerlandSwitzerlandBelgiumTurkey 19BelgiumBelgiumSwedenBelgium 20AustriaSwedenAustriaSweden Based on World Bank development reports, these rankings show the emergence of new markets as well as the growth and development of BRIC economies. In the report titled â€Å"Dreaming with BRIC’s : The path to 2050† (Goldman Sacs, 2003), the assumption is made that in a period of less than 40 years the BRIC economies could be larger than the combined G6 nations in terms of US dollars. Furthermore, the report states that the BRIC countries alone are worth about 15 % of the G6 nations. This alone would indicate the expected levels of growth from emerging markets, specifically Brazil, Russia, India and China. To further understand the emergence of these markets, we must look at the various social and economic factors that transformed these once developing economies to emerging markets with a strong global presence. Prahlad and Lieberthal (The end of corporate imperialism, 1998) postulate that the emerging middle class as an market force has actually led to significant growth in the BRIC countries. A â€Å"product hungry† consumer and a growing purchasing power has transformed once developing countries to emerging global markets. They further go on to say that consumers are rapidly changing their tastes and choices of products. To quote â€Å"†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Indian consumers tried on an average 6. 2 brands of the same packaged good product in one year, compared with 2. 0 of Americans consumers. † Among all the emerging markets, China has always has a strong manufacturing presence globally and is poised to overtake German manufacturing capabilities by the year in the not-so-distant future. Natural resources and labour have naturally been a source of FDI for emerging markets, since China and India alone account for about 33% of the world population. Russia and Brazil, with its natural resources have turned their once developing economies into strong emerging markets. The emergence of these markets as global players have been accounted to factors like increased levels of privatisation due to disinvestments by PSU’s, Technology up gradations, increased levels of skilled labour and liberalization of trade restrictions. In India, for example, had a BPO industry worth about $5. 7 billion in 2005 and showed growth rates of about 44%. (The Evolution of BPO in India, Pricewatehousecoopers, 2005). The emerging market as secure capital investment is a different story altogether. The risks of emerging markets and BRIC countries are quite prominent in the face of investments from more stable, advanced countries. The volatile nature of these markets in terms of economic viability has actually held back a lot of potential FDI over the years. Political instability, weak infrastructural capabilities and currency appreciation for export led economies have been just a few of the challenges faced by these emerging markets. GDP growth in agri – dependent economies fluctuates depending on seasonal factors and as most of the emerging markets are, in fact, still largely dependent upon agriculture; a measure of economic growth would too be dependent on agriculture as a primary source of capital. These are just a few of the risk factors in these emerging markets that account for very cautious investments by MNC’c. Part 2: Challenging Global Expansion Strategy With the trends of growth of new emerging markets, particularly BRIC economies, approaches to strategy of global expansion and marketing by traditional MNC’s have seen major overhauls. In terms to Global Expansion Strategy, a look at the EPRG framework for global marketing would give better insight as to how these markets led to the evolution of global strategy. a)Ethnocentric orientation: Ethnocentric orientation refers to an attitude towards export that the product requires little or no modification for export to foreign markets. The key characteristic with these products is that it looks to its home market as the major point of reference. So how has strategy changed regarding the marketing of these ethnocentric products? With the increasing trend of globalization, there is no room for a purely ethnocentric viewpoint towards exportable products. The assumption that the domestic techniques and staff are superior to the target market is imperialistic and redundant in the complex market of today. This ethnocentric outlook, where overseas operations are regarded are secondary to the home market and where personnel are trained in context to the data gathered in the home market is a good example of â€Å"corporate imperialism† Prahalad Lieberthal (1998), state that the mere cultural sensitivity is not enough. They go on to say that MNC’s need to drop many assumptions regarding the nature of the consumer and the market. The assumption, for instance, that the middle class consumer in these emerging markets are at the same level as those in developed markets is not just imperialistic, but may lead to critical errors in the formulation of strategy. A good example of this ethnocentric outlook leading to a loss of marketability would be Revlon when it introduced its products to China in 1976 and India in 1994. Revlon’s assumptions regarding purchasing power and the target customer led to its status as a high-end product and loss of potential sales. ) Polycentric Orientation : The next stage in the evolution of a global strategy would be a more polycentric approach towards overseas markets. In view of a changing market scenario, MNC’s could no longer afford to have an ethnocentric orientation towards global strategy, so naturally the focus shifted from home to host country. A polycentric orientation is one where subsidiaries of the mother company are established in the target markets where objectives and plans are established by these subsidiaries. Research and strategies are formulated by these subsidiaries for their specific markets. New emerging markets led to companies drastically changing this strategy of subsidiaries because of the need for quick decisions without the constant approval of the head office, to facilitate the need for sharing of knowledge and most importantly to cope with the fierce competition spearheaded in most part, by China. Williamson, (2005), talks about increasing innovative competition in Asia and attributes these changes to 4 major shifts in the competitive environment viz. he demise of asset speculation, the scattering of the â€Å"flying geese† development, the breakdown of national economic â€Å"baronies† and the decay of â€Å"me – too† strategies. ( Journal of Business Strategy; 2005, Vol. 26 Issue 2, p37-43, 7p) This basically meant that by 1997 strategies based on asset accumulation as a driving force of company worth, or those based on position of low – e nd or high end manufacturing were no longer applicable. A polycentric orientation, therefore, would not allow appropriate speed of operation and decision making in these markets. )Regiocentric and Geocentric orientation : With the breakdown of national economic barriers and the decay of me – too strategies, referring to hanger –ons of strategic success, regiocentric and geocentric orientation towards the formulation of global strategy started to form the most logical and profitable outlook. A regiocentric orientation is where the region is viewed as one market and a geocentric orientation is where the world is regarded as a single market. In order to develop an effective strategy, a series of questions that a firm needs to address have been created. Strategies that fit emerging markets, Khanna, Palepu, Sinha, 2005). Key questions are based on: Political and social systems Openness Product Market Labour market Capital Market For example, companies found that the labour market in India had a highly liquid pool of English speaking management whereas in China the market for managers was small and static, Brazil had managers with varying degrees of proficiency of the English language and the same was in Russia. 2. 1) Why the need for strategic change? You are only going to have two kinds of companies in the future: those companies that go global, and those companies that go bankrupt. † (AT President John Zeglis quoted in Garten. J, 2004, Introduction, World View: Global strategies for the new economy). In today’s economic trends of emerging markets and increasingly profitable global business, strategies that were once acceptable are no longer applicable primarily because of the vast differences in the markets now available to the global company. Some of the reasons we have already discussed are: )Ethnic and cultural differences. b)Economic structure. c)Organizational structure. d)Increasing competition. e)Globalization. A good example o f a strategy that works in advanced economies and does not have the same viability in emerging economies are the â€Å"mantras† of core competencies and focussed strategies. (Palepu, Khanna, 1997 : Why Focussed strategies may be wrong for emerging markets). Here, the authors talk about how a focussed strategy may work in a developed economy but may not have the same effect in an emerging one. They speculate that the infrastructural incapability in these economies just would not allow this kind of a strategy to function. They argue that â€Å" †¦highly diversified business groups can be particularly well suited to the institutional context in most developing countries. † Therefore it is quite evident that with the rise of BRIC economies and other emerging markets, a change in strategic trends is essential for the MNC to prosper in the changing global economy. Part 3 – Focus on BRIC: Mittal Steel /Arcelor Mittal If there ever was a success story that placed drew attention to the BRIC economies, Arcelor Mittal would be among the top of them. Mittal steel was formed in 2004 when ISPAT international acquired LNM holdings N. V. – both already controlled by now CEO of Arcelor Mittal Lakhsmi Mittal. By 2005, Mittal steel was ranked among the Global fortune 500 companies and after its merger with Arcelor steel in January 2006, it became the first 100 million tonne plus steel producer. Mittal steel was ranked 99 in the Fortune 500 companies in 2007. (rankings on www. oney. cnn. com and company information from www. mittalsteel. com) Mittal steel has an industrial presence all over the globe – Asia, America, Europe and Africa. A Timeline of Mittal Steel 2005: Acquisition of a stake in Hunan Valin ; ISG Acquisition completed ; Mittal Steel Europe created ; Mittal Steel makes Fortune 500 list of top companies; MDA with Liberian government ; Acquisition of Kryvorizhstal ; MoU with State of Jharkhand, India ; Acquisition of Stelco subsidiaries ; Stake lifted in Mittal Steel Zenica 2004: Acquisition of Polski Huty Stali ; Acquisition of BH Steel ; Acquisition of Macedonian facilities from Balkan Steel ; Creation of Mittal Steel and proposed acquisition of International Steel ; 2003Acquisition of Nova Hut 2002 Business assistance agreement signed with Iscor 2001Acquisition of ALFASID ; Acquisition of Sidex 1999Acquisition of Unimetal 1998Acquisition of Inland Steel Company 1997Ispat International NV goes public 1995Acquisition of Hamburger Stahlwerke ; Ispat International Ltd. and Ispat Shipping formed ; Acquisition of Karmet 1994Acquisition of Sidbec-Dosco 992Acquisition of Sibalsa 1989Acquisition of Iron Steel Company of Trinidad Tobago 3. 1) The Strategy From observing the activities of this MNC on the above timeline, it is quite clear that the major Global expansion strategy for Mittal steel has been one of acquisitions. To understand this acquisition – based strategy better, it is imperative to analyse the pre – acquisition negotiation and post â €“ acquisition activities of the acquiring company. It could be safely said that no acquisition process is completely the same compared to another but there are some commonalities. For Mittal Steel, the strategic management of their mergers and acquisitions in the pre and post acquisition stages have led to their phenomenal success on the global scale. So what could be called their process of acquisition? And what would be the strategic advantages of this so called â€Å"acquisition spree† which has taken place over the last 8 years. An example of the activities Mittal Steel would usually follow can be seen by a look at the acquisition of Mexicana Ispat in 1991 . In the pre – acquisition stage, a team of experts were divided into sub –units and sent out to analyse the plant and its operations. Reports of the plants performance in areas of finance, marketing, management etc were analysed and based on the reports of these experts, bids were made by ISPAT. In the post acquisition stage had the following characteristics a)Stopping losses and cutting costs b)Minimal lay –offs c)Implementation of quality control and improvisation programs i)Daily meetings and reports ii)ISO methods iii)Stretch goals iv)Knowledge integration programme It is evident that Mittal Steel, even in that point of time, had a larger strategic plan which integrated this acquisition â€Å"spree†. Cohan and Rangan ( 2006 ) speculate that this strategy is the best for the avoidance of head – to – head competition with incumbent firms. If firms can operate in markets that the already established competition ignores, significant scale of operations can be achieved with minimal competitive retaliation. Once the competitions attention is attracted, the newer firm will be in a position to defend its stance. (Seven Strategy lessons from top entrepreneurs). This strategy has paid off for Mittal steel and has been demonstrated in the Arcelor takeover bid struggle. To answer the question of why it has succeeded where other firms have not, is a combination of both its acquisition process and its innovative market entry strategy. Mittal steel has clearly shown the Global market that emerging markets do have the industrial prowess to finance a takeover in even the most advanced of economies. To conclude, the age of â€Å"corporate imperialism† is now behind us – innovative strategy for a global market being slowly dominated by emerging markets, especially the BRIC economies, must be taken very seriously if a firm is to survive. word count 2683) Sources: EBSCO Google scholar References: Cohan . P , Rangan U. S. (2006), Follow the Legend :Seven Strategy lessons from top entrepreneurs Business strategy review London Business School, winter 2006 Available at ; blackwell- synergy. com/action/showPdf? submitPDF=Full+Text+PDF+%28288+KB%29=10. 1111%2Fj. 0955-6419. 2006. 00436. x=1; Khanna. T. , Palepu . K. G. , Sinha. J. (2005) Strategies t hat Fit emerging Markets Harvard Business Review Harvard University Press, USA Khanna. T. , Palepu. K. 1997), Why Focussed Strategies May Be Wrong For Emerging Markets. World View : Global Strategies for the new economy Harvard University Press (2000) Piramal. G, Ghoshal . S 2005 The Extraordinary story of Mittal Steel Rediff news, March 17th 2005, Viewed 21st April, 2008 Available from rediff. com/money/2005/mar/17mittal. htm Prahalad C. K. , Lieberthal K (1998) The End of Corporate Imperialism World View: Global Strategies for the New Economy Harvard University Press, USA (2000) Williamson Peter. J. (2005) , Asia’s New Competitive Game Journal of Business Strategy; Vol. 26 Issue 2, p37-43, 7p Harvard University Press, 2005 Wilson. D. , Purushothaman (2003) Dreaming With the BRIC Global Economics paper :99 Goldman Sachs Inc. , 2003, viewed 19/04/2008 ; http://www2. goldmansachs. com/ideas/brics/book/99-dreaming. pdf; Wind . Y. , Douglas . S. P. , Perlmutter, H. V. (1973) Guidelines for Developing International Marketing Strategies Journal of Marketing, Vol 37, No. 2, pp 14 -23 American Marketing Association, viewed 20/04/2008 ; jstor. org/stable/view/1250046? seq=1;

The 15 Best Books on Writing A Reading List for Novelists

The 15 Best Books on Writing A Reading List for Novelists The 15 Best Books on Writing: A Reading List for Novelists Okay, we know what you’re thinking: why compile a list of the best craft-based  books when most people these days learn exclusively from blogs, podcasts, and YouTube videos? Well, because we still think there’s something to be said for the long-form enjoyment and value of picking up a book and learning directly from an author - especially if you’re angling to become an author yourself. Indeed, both the technical wisdom and biographical experiences  of these writers can be hugely beneficial as you develop your own process.For this post, we asked an online community of writers to suggest some indispensable books about writing. With their answers in mind, here are 15 of the very best books on writing to help you hone your craft to perfection! 15 incredible books on writing to help you write YOUR dream book 📘🠏† 1. On Writing by Stephen KingPerhaps the most-cited book on this list, On Writing is part-memoir, part-masterclass from one of America’s leading authors. Come for the vivid accounts of his childhood - and his extended "lost weekend" of drinking and drugs in the 1980s. Stay for the specific, actionable advice on what it takes to become an author. Among the many craft-based tips are King’s expert takes on plot, story, character, and more, which he's used to pen countless novels and short stories.From the book: â€Å"Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.† Two Types of Writers: Plotters and Pantsers Read post 5. Take Off Your Pants by Libbie HawkerOf all the titles on this list, Take Off Your Pants has to be the most eye-catching. But rather than remarking on the joys of working from home, this title actually alludes to being a pantser: a writer who dives straight into their draft with little more than an idea. Hawker doesn’t dissuade writers from â€Å"pantsing,† but does note that structure tends to help, at least in her experience. This book details her process for planning a story, offering various tools and techniques for nailing your book before you start typing â€Å"once upon a time.†From the book: â€Å"When it comes to the eternal quandary of pantsing or plotting, you can keep a foot in each camp. But if your goals will require you to write with speed and confidence, an effective outline will be your best friend.† "Take Off Your Pants" by Libbie Hawker + 14 other essential books on writingðŸ‘â€" 6. Writing into the Dark by Dean Wesley SmithAnd for those who eschew structure altogether, we’ll refer you to this title from prolific science fiction author Dean Wesley Smith. Having authored a number of official Star Trek novels, he encourages writers to go boldly into the unknown, with an approach to writing books that doesn’t necessarily involve an elaborate plan.From the book: â€Å"Imagine if every novel you picked up had a detailed outline of the entire plot†¦ Would you read the novel after reading the outline? Chances are, no. What would be the point? You already know the journey the writer is going to take you on. So, as a writer, why do an outline and then have to spend all that time creating a book you already know?†7. Everybody Writes by Ann HandleyThe full title of this all-inclusive book on writing is actually Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content - which should tell you something about its universally encou raging nature. Not only does Handley have some great ideas on how to plan and produce a great story, she also provides tips on general content writing, which comes in handy when it’s time to market your book. And while the central message of Everybody Writes may be right there in the title, we can attest that its material will make you see writing in a whole new light.From the book: â€Å"In our world, many hold a notion that the ability to write, or write well, is a gift bestowed on a chosen few. That leaves us thinking there are two kinds of people: the writing haves - and the hapless, for whom writing well is a hopeless struggle, like trying to carve marble with a butter knife. But I don’t believe that, and neither should you.†8. How to Become a Successful Indie Author by Craig Martelle Be the architect of your story. (Image: Khara Woods on Unsplash)15. The Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher VoglerAnd finally we arrive not merely at prolific structure, but at mythic structure. Vogler’s book, originally published in 1992, is now a modern classic of writing advice; though intended as a screenwriting textbook, its contents apply to any story of mythic proportions. In The Writer’s Journey, Vogler takes a page (literally) from Joseph Campbell’s Hero of a Thousand Faces to ruminate upon the most essential narrative structures and character archetypes of the writing craft. So if you’re thinking of drawing up an epic fantasy series full of those tropes we all know and love, this guide should be right up your alley.From the book: â€Å"The Hero’s Journey is not an invention, but an observation. It is a recognition of a beautiful design†¦ It’s difficult to avoid the sensation that the Hero’s Jou rney exists somewhere, somehow, as an external reality, a Platonic ideal form, a divine model. From this model, infinite and highly varied copies can be produced, each resonating with the essential spirit of the form.†That’s all the recommendations we have for now - but we’re always looking for more! Tell us in the comments: what are your favorite books on writing, and why?

Annual Report Review Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Annual Report Review - Essay Example The above ratios depict the profitability position of Northern Foods plc for the last two years (2007-2006). K.S.Rao has pointed that â€Å"The profitability ratios measure the overall record of management in producing profits for long term survival or its survival will be threatened † (223). These ratios reveal the comparison of two years 2007 and 2006 and shows corresponding change over the years. Northern Foods Plc gross profit ratio had a decline by about 13% in the year 2007 as compared to that in 2006. The company’s operating profit ratio for the year 2007 i.e., 5.92% is much lower than that in the previous year, which shows a 1% decline in the company’s operating profit. It has slumped by about 1% in 2007 as compared to the year 2006. Though the Company’s sales have increased but the cost of sales comparatively to the year 2006 has increased resulting lower gross profit for the year 2007 as compare to 2006, meanwhile the operating expenses shows a d eclining trend. Northern Foods plc Net profit ratio for the year 2007 displays substantial increase in profitability as compared to 2007 which is 40.7% higher than to year 2006. The difference in operating and net profit margin is due to the lower finance expenses and higher finance income for the year 2007 as compare to previous year 2006. Northern Foods plc ROCE ratio in 2007 exhibits a drastic increase in the company’s profitability by about 47% as when compared to 2006 which was 0.08 %. The ROCE calculation takes into account PBIT and Total assets less current liabilities. In Northern Plc case, the PBIT shows slight increase but due to substantial decrease in current liabilities that resulted better ROCE as compare to previous year 2006. The return on equity shows the extent to which a company generates profit on the funds invested by its shareholders. The company’s ROE ratio suggests a slight